Collapsible shoo-fly rocker.



A. 1). CONVERSE. GOLLAPSIBLE SHOO FLY ROCKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1911.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ATHERTON D. CONVERSE. OF WINCI-IENDON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COLLAPSIBLE SHOO-FLY ROCKER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June 23, 1911.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912, Serial No. 635,037.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ATHERTON D. CON- vrnsn, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of WVinchendon, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Collapsible Shoo-Fly Rockers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible rockers and particularly to that class of rockers which is known to the trade as shoo -fly rockers.

The object of the prolvide a rocker which w1ll be collapsible anc which may be readily put into operative condition when its use is deplane with the body portion of the side members when the rocker is in use.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan of a rocker embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 represents a an elevation of the col- Fig. 4 represents a transverse section, the cutting plane being on line 4 4: on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a similar section of the rocker when collapsed. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the play tray. Fig. 7 represents an enlarged detail showing the pivotal connection be tween the side frame and the extension member hinged thereto, and Fig.

I 8 represents a similar view,

showing the extension in the same plane with the side member, and retained 111 such position by means of the play tray.

Similar characters designate like parts 1 nected together under face of said seat so that the seat may be folded upwardly about the pivot of said hinges into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawing The opposite edges of said seat are pivotally secured to the side frames 10 by means of hinges 15 set into the upper face of said seat 12 and the inner face of said side frames as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The seat 12 is also provided with a back 18 centrally divided at 19, said back being wholly disconnected from the seat portion 12. The two parts of position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The opposite edges ofthe back 18 are pivotally secured by hinges 21 or other side frames 10. Pivotally secured to the rear of one part of the back 18 is a latch member 22 adapted to engage a projection 23 secured to the rear face of the other part of said back, this latch 22 and projection 23 coacting to prevent the fold ing of the back when the rocker is in use.

It is obvious that when any weight, as for instance, that of a child, is resting upon the seat 12, the folding of said seat will be effectually prevented. When the rocker is desired for use it is in the condition shown in Figs. 1, 4:, and 8 of the drawings, but when it desired to ship the rocker or when position shown in Flgs.

back 18 is then permitted to fold rearwardly about the pivot of the hinges 20, into the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. At the same time the seat 12 is folded upwardly about the pivot of the hinges 14 into the 2, 3, and 5, thus permitting the side frames to be moved toward each other as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. To further reduce the space to be occupied by the rocker when in storage, or when ready for shipping, the body portion of the horse or animal has hinged thereto by means of hinges 2% any outwardly projecting extensionsuch as the head portion 25 shown in Flg. 3 of the drawin s.

This head portion or extension may be moved about the pivot of the hinges 24E into contact with one face of the body portion of the side member 10, as indicated clearly 2o and 7 of the drawings. Thls insures the rockers when packed occupying considerably less space, making it possible to pack them in cases of smaller dimensions, and obviating any danger of the heads or other extensions being broken in transit. Each head extension 25 has secured to its inner face a plurality of staples or other female members 26, which are adapted to receive the downwardly projecting male members 27 secured to a play tray 28 or some similar member. This tray or member 28 is interposed between the head extensions 25, and when the projections 27 are inserted into the staples 26, the extensions 25 are locked securely in position in the same plane with the body portion of the side members 10. To give i creased rigidity to the rocker when in use, screws 29 may be inserted through the head extensions 25 into the ends of the play tray 28. \Vhen the head extensions 25 are moved about thepivot of the hinges 24: into contact with one face of i into recesses 30 formed in the face of said body portion. then in this position the rocker occupies but a little space, which is a great advantage in shipping, and results in a great saving to the wholesale and retail dealers where storage facilities are limited and rentals expensive. The device is of further advantage even after being sold, as in the home itself it is often desired to store the rockers temporarilyr and by'folding the device as indicated in the drawings and described herein it may be placed in a closet or other limited compartment and occupy a very little space. Another advantage of the device is that all of the parts are permanently secured together, so that when the device is opened up for use no part can be missing and prevent its being placed in operative condition. Heretofore knock-down rockers have been used to reduce the cost of shipping and the expense of storage, but when it is necessary the body portion of the side member 10 the staples 26 ext-end to put the rocker on sale and exhibit the same, considerable work has to be performe to place it in operation, and oftentimes some of the disconnected parts are found to be missing, which makes the use of these knockdown rockers objectionable. In applicants construction all of these objections have been fully overcome.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the foregoing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of two side members; an extension hinged to each side member and adapted to be moved inwardly against the inner face thereof; a member adapted to be interposed between said extensions and means for locking said member to said extensions to prevent the inward movement thereof.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of two side members; an extension hinged to each side member and adapted to be moved inwardly against the inner face thereof; a play tray adapted to be interposed between said extensions; and means for locking said tray to said extensions to prevent the inward movement thereof.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of two side members; an extension hinged to each side member and movable into position against the inner face thereof; female members on the inner face of each extension; and a member provide at each end with male members adapted to coact with said female members to lock said extensions in the same plane with said side members.

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of two side members; an extension hinged to each side member and movable into position against the inner face the inner facethereof; female members on of each extension; and a play tray provided at each end with male members adapted to coact with said female members to locksaid extensions in the same plane with said side members.

combination of two side members; a collapsible seat interposed between said side members; an extension hingedv to each side member and adapted to be moved inwardly against the inner face thereof; and a member adapted to be interposed between said extensions and locked thereto to prevent the inward movement thereof.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of two side members; a collapsible seat interposed between said side members; an extension hinged to each side member and adapted to be moved inwardly against the inner face thereof; and a play tray adapted to be interposed between said are 5. In a device of the class described, the 1 extensions and locked thereto inward movement thereof.

7. In a device of the class described, the

to prevent the each side member; and a play tray adapted to be interposed between and secured to said heads to lock them in the same plane with said side members.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of two side members; tension hinged to each and adapted to be said side member; a member adapted to be interposed between said extensions; and means secured thereto to lock said exten- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

plane with said side memaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

